Controlling Crop With A Grape Trellis

Controlling Crop With A Grape Trellis

by

Stan Spencer

A grape trellis is the structure used to grow grape vines. It generally consists

of two weight bearing posts at the ends of each rows, support posts, fruiting wires

and catch wires. Specific trellis systems are chosen depending on the grape, climate,

type of harvesting and desired yield. A trellis is needed for the grapes to ripen

properly. Grapes grown in the wild tend to be of very poor quality and may not

fully ripen. Grapes on trellis systems will reach maturity and taste fantastic.

There are many types of trellis systems, the most popular being VSP or vertical

shoot position. VSP has a single fruiting wire and the canopy is held above the

fruiting zone, vertically. This type of trellis is easy to use machine harvesting

and you can use cane, cordon and spur pruning. VSP allows plenty of light and air

to contact the grapes and decreases the chance of mildew and rot.

Vines that may produce too much crop can have the fruiting zone split using a Scott

Henry trellis. A split fruiting zone will cut down on the yield. The Scott Henry

trellis is like the VSP except it has an additional fruiting zone underneath the

VSO zone with shoots growing towards the ground. If you are using VSP and have

very vigorous vines then the trellis system can easily be changed to Scott Henry

in a year or two.

In very hot climates such as the Mediterranean a lyre system is popular. The

trellis system is shaped like a lyre, with two fruiting zones, one on each side

of the lyre. This will provide some additional shade as grapes are in danger of

being sunburned and shriveling due to too much sun, but they also allow airflow

to get through the canopy.

The Geneva double curtain trellis was developed in Geneva NY and works best for

Vitis labrusca grapes or table grapes. These grapes naturally like to grow up and

then have their shoots drape to the ground. The Geneva double curtain works in this

way with a tall trunk and the fruiting area at the top. The shoots then are left to

drape back to the ground. Wine grapes do not do well with Geneva double curtain.

There are many other types of trellis systems though the above are the most common.

There are some truly odd trellises systems. Trellising is used to control growth

and provide a beneficial environment for grapes to ripen. New trellises are being

developed to fix problems with growth and disease.

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